Frequently asked questions – answered

The WEEKEND is an inflatable rooftop tent: instead of a metal frame, an inflatable TPU drop-stitch mat carries the tent. Here’s how it works:

• Inflate the mat with the hand pump included
• Pitch the tent on the mat using the aluminium poles
• Lift the finished tent onto your roof bars as one unit and secure it with the straps

Setup including fitting it to the roof takes 8–10 minutes, packing down takes 5 minutes. No tools needed, and one person can do it alone. Step by step with video: WEEKEND setup.

No. The WEEKEND is set up on the ground and only lifted onto the car as a complete unit once you arrive. It never travels on the roof while set up.

Before every drive you take it down and pack it to 75 × 48 × 40 cm. It then travels in your boot, or packed in the WEEKEND Speedbag on your roof bars.

Both models share the same drop-stitch mat, the same dimensions and the same packed size.

Classic (11.5 kg tent weight): the pure basic version. If you’re looking for a lightweight rooftop tent, this is it – the Classic is one of the lightest rooftop tents in the world.

Comfort (13 kg tent weight) adds:

• a removable SkyView roof with two panoramic windows
• a black-out coating to darken the tent
• rain canopies over both entrances

Both side by side: WEEKEND Classic or Comfort.

Set up, the WEEKEND measures 220 × 130 × 120 cm (length × width × height). That’s room for two. It has two entrances and two side vents.

Packed, the WEEKEND measures 75 × 48 × 40 cm – about the size of a holdall. It fits in a wardrobe, a cellar or your boot. No garage or carport needed. Just make sure it’s dry when you pack and store it.

• inflatable drop-stitch mat (TPU)
• tent made of ripstop polyester with PU coating
• aluminium poles
• aluminium ladder (2.30 m)
• hand pump with 2.4 m hose
• repair kit
• carry bag

The complete package including the ladder weighs 18 kg (Classic) or 19.4 kg (Comfort). A sleeping mat is not included.

The drop-stitch mat is already a firm, level surface to sleep on. For extra comfort we recommend a sleeping mat, for example the Wechsel Vasta 5. A sleeping mat is not included.

No. A hand pump with a 2.4 m hose is included. If you set the tent up often, you can also use an electric pump or a compressor.

Yes. The ripstop polyester tent with PU coating has a hydrostatic head of 5,000 mm. The WEEKEND Comfort also has rain canopies over both entrances. And because you sleep on the roof, ground moisture stays outside.

The WEEKEND is built differently from classic rooftop tents. Good to know beforehand:

• You take it down before every drive – it doesn’t stay on the roof permanently.
• The air mat has a little more give than a floor with a metal frame.
• The tent fabric is thinner than on heavy rooftop tents; in return the tent is light and packs small.
• If you stay several nights in a row, top up the air in the mat now and then.
• A sleeping mat is not included.

Yes. With the WEEKEND Stage you can set the tent up on any level surface, for example at a campsite, in the garden or at a festival. The aluminium platform is about 50 cm high and weighs 9 kg.

Groenberg is also available from retailers. The dealer locator shows retailers near you. It’s best to ask the retailer beforehand whether they have a WEEKEND set up.

The dynamic roof load applies while driving. Roof bars, tent and everything else on the roof together must not exceed it.

The static roof load applies when the car is parked – that is, while you sleep in the rooftop tent. It is much higher, because a car roof also has to withstand a rollover. Many manufacturers don’t state a figure for it. If you’re unsure, ask the manufacturer or a garage.

The dynamic roof load is in your car’s owner’s manual. We have collected the figures for many models in the Roof Load Finder.

Rule of thumb: tent weight plus roof bars (usually around 5–8 kg) must not exceed the dynamic roof load.

• WEEKEND Classic and Comfort in the boot: only the roof bars travel on the roof, so around 10 kg is usually enough.
• WEEKEND in the Speedbag on the roof: roof bars, Speedbag and contents count together. The complete package including ladder weighs 18 kg (Classic) or 19.4 kg (Comfort).
• Halvor: 68 kg without ladder; the ladder weighs 6 kg.
• Alvar and Tjelvar: 77 kg without ladder. The ladder doesn’t travel on the roof, so with roof bars you need at least around 85 kg.

The Roof Load Finder shows which model suits your car.

Almost any car that can take roof bars – including small cars and many electric cars. Because the WEEKEND travels in the boot, the dynamic roof load only has to carry the bars. For sleeping, the static roof load is what counts.

Often, yes. The WEEKEND fits most small cars with roof bars. Heavy rooftop tents need a correspondingly high roof load.

For electric cars, check the owner’s manual: some models don’t allow any roof load at all, and so no roof bars either. In that case the WEEKEND stays on the ground with the WEEKEND Stage. More in our guide Rooftop Tent for Small Cars.

A panoramic roof can reduce the permitted roof load. On some models roof bars aren’t allowed at all. Check the figure for your exact trim level in the owner’s manual.

With the WEEKEND that works well, because it is light and fitted without tools. Check with the provider first whether roof bars and rooftop tents are allowed. Most hire cars have no roof bars, so you’d need to bring a suitable set.

The Roof Load Finder shows the roof load for more than 100 vehicles and which Groenberg models fit.

What counts is the information from the manufacturers of the rooftop tent, the roof bars and the vehicle. It’s in the respective manuals, and the lowest figure applies. A load on the roof changes handling, sensitivity to crosswinds and braking distance, so adjust your speed.

With the WEEKEND in the boot, only the roof bars travel on the roof. If you carry it packed in the Speedbag, follow the limits for the roof bars and the Speedbag. When driving abroad, check the local rules.

Yes, with the WEEKEND Speedbag. The packed WEEKEND travels on your roof bars in this transport bag, leaving your boot free. Add the weight of the package, Speedbag and roof bars to your dynamic roof load. The WEEKEND never travels on the roof while set up.

For permanently fitted rooftop tents, anti-theft nuts that can only be undone with a special tool, or locks on the fixings, help.

Between stops the WEEKEND usually travels in your boot. At your pitch it is strapped to the roof bars – don’t leave valuables in the tent when you’re away for a while.

• Raised position: away from mud, sand, stones and creepy-crawlies
• Level sleeping surface: whatever the ground below looks like
• Flexible: stay wherever camping is allowed
• Feeling safe: many people like the raised entrance, especially when travelling alone
• The view: with luck, a starry sky right above your bed

It depends on the type. At Groenberg the range goes from 11.5 kg (WEEKEND Classic) and 13 kg (WEEKEND Comfort) to 68 kg (Halvor, without ladder) and 77 kg (Alvar and Tjelvar, without ladder). The weight decides how much roof load your car needs.

Inflatable (WEEKEND): an air mat replaces the metal frame. Very light and packs small; set up on the ground and taken down again before driving.

Soft shell (fold-out tent): the sleeping area doubles when unfolded, usually with a covered entrance. Lighter and usually cheaper than a hard shell; setup takes a little longer.

Hard shell: quick to set up, more aerodynamic and quieter on the road, bedding can stay inside. Heavier and more expensive in return.

• Inflatable: if your car has a low roof load, you don’t want the tent on the roof permanently, or you have little storage space
• Soft shell: if you want a lot of sleeping space, for example for two to three people, and the tent can stay on the roof for longer
• Hard shell: if you want a quick setup, drive a lot of motorway miles and keep the tent on the car permanently

• Inflatable: WEEKEND Classic, WEEKEND Comfort
• Soft shell: Halvor 160
• Hard shell: Alvar, Tjelvar

Yes – lots of children love sleeping on the roof; it feels a bit like a treehouse. Young children should be accompanied on the ladder. With the WEEKEND Stage you don’t need a ladder: the entrance is then about 50 cm off the ground.

The WEEKEND has no power supply. A power bank or a portable power station is enough for light and your phone. What the other models come with is listed in each product description.

That depends on the model. You’ll find the details in the product description and on the product photos.

Yes. A rooftop tent always goes on two roof bars rated for the load. The WEEKEND is also fixed to the bars with its straps. What to look out for is explained in our guide Roof Bars for Rooftop Tents.

Yes, with suitable roof bars for the rails. The rails alone are not enough. Roof bars are matched to the vehicle model and the type of rails.

You don’t need any tools for the WEEKEND. The other Groenberg models come with the tools to fix them to the roof bars. A ratchet spanner isn’t necessary, but makes fitting easier.

The WEEKEND, yes: with a tent weight of 11.5 kg you can carry it alone, set it up on the ground and lift it onto the roof as one unit. For the Halvor, Alvar and Tjelvar we recommend at least two people. Instructions and videos: Installation & Setup.

The WEEKEND comes with a 2.30 m aluminium ladder; the Alvar and Tjelvar also come with a 2.30 m ladder. For the Alvar and Tjelvar there is also a 2.60 m ladder available as a spare part.

For very tall vehicles, send us the model and roof height at info@groenberg.com. For the WEEKEND, the WEEKEND Stage is an alternative with no ladder at all.

No, all Groenberg rooftop tents are proofed at the factory. If the proofing wears off after some years, a reproofing spray for outdoor fabrics helps. Test it on an inconspicuous spot first.

• Brush off dried dirt with a soft brush
• Vacuum the inside with a handheld vacuum
• Clean the fabric with a mild detergent and a soft sponge
• On models with a mattress, remove the cover and wash it according to the care label
• Let everything dry completely before packing

Treat light mould with a water and vinegar mixture (1:1). For stubborn mould, use a mould remover for tent fabric. Then let the tent dry completely and store it open.

Briefly, yes – for example if you have to leave in the rain. After 2–3 days at the latest, set it up to dry. Stored damp, mould forms and the fabric suffers.

Dry, ventilated and with nothing on top. Sealed completely airtight, moisture can build up. If your rooftop tent stays on the car, open and air it now and then during longer breaks.

• Rinse with clean water after the beach or salty air
• Let it dry completely before rolling it up
• Patch small punctures with the repair kit included
• Keep it away from sharp objects
• If you stay several nights in a row, top up the air now and then

The WEEKEND Stage is an extendable aluminium platform for the WEEKEND Classic and Comfort: 192 × 130 cm surface, about 50 cm high, 9 kg, packed size 76 × 25 × 20 cm. With it you can pitch the tent without a car, and you get in without a ladder. How to set it up: Stage setup.

The WEEKEND Bridge is a roll-up mat with built-in aluminium slats, similar to a slatted bed base. It bridges the gap between the roof bars and supports the drop-stitch mat. We recommend it when the bars are far apart.

• for the WEEKEND: Stage, Bridge and Speedbag
• tarps and sun shades for more shade and rain protection
• Annex extensions for the Halvor in S, M and L
• for the Alvar and Tjelvar: Roof Rack, thermal inner tent and 2.60 m ladder

Everything at a glance: rooftop tent accessories. Which tarp suits which tent is explained in our guide Awning or Tarp for Your Rooftop Tent.

The current delivery time is shown with each product in the shop; it can vary by model and season. For pre-orders you’ll find the expected delivery date there too.

You’ll find delivery countries and shipping costs under Payment & Shipping. For enquiries from other countries, write to us at info@groenberg.com. Groenberg is also available from retailers – see the dealer locator.

• Email: info@groenberg.com
• Contact form: go to the form
• Address: Skanfriends GmbH, Viktoriastraße 21, 25524 Itzehoe, Germany

We usually reply within 1–2 working days.

The statutory warranty of 2 years applies. Everything about cancellation and returns is in our cancellation policy. If there’s a defect, contact us directly and we’ll take care of it.

Selected spare parts are available in the shop, such as the 2.60 m ladder for the Alvar and Tjelvar. If you need another part, write to us at info@groenberg.com – we’ll check what we can supply.